Entertainment NOW

2 • March 27 - April 2, 2022 Entertainment Now By Kyla Brewer TV Media W ith everything going on in the world right now, most people could use some posi- tivity. Hollywood is about to an- swer the call with red carpet glamour as stars celebrate the power of film to not only entertain but educate, uplift and unite us. A trio of fabulous, funny women take the stage to co-host the (mostly) live, in-person 94th Academy Awards, airing Sun- day, March 28, on ABC. Wanda Sykes ("The Upshaws"), Amy Schumer ("The Humans," 2021) and Regina Hall ("Support the Girls," 2018) have been recruited to bring levity and humor to the highly anticipated event, no small feat given the state of the world. But if anyone can do it, they can, according to Oscars producer Will Packer. "This year's show is all about uniting movie lovers," Packer said. "It's apropos that we've lined up three of the most dynamic, hilari- ous women with very different comedic styles. I know the fun Regina, Amy and Wanda will be having will translate to our audi- ence as well. Packer finished up by saying, "Many surprises in store! Expect the unexpected!" While this year marks the first time any of the comedians have hosted the Oscars, veteran direc- tor Glenn Weiss returns to helm the ceremony for the seventh time. Having won two Emmys for previous work on the Oscars tele- cast, Weiss is well poised to bring the gala back in style. This year, the star-studded awards ceremony returns to its traditional home: the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Last year's subdued, physically distanced event held at Union Station in Los Angeles (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) failed to wow viewers, and its viewership numbers plum- meted below 10 million. Producers hope to reverse that trend this year with a star- studded telecast featuring a mix of up-and-comers and Hollywood A-listers. In early March, it was an- nounced that Kevin Costner ("Yel- lowstone"), Zoë Kravitz ("Big Little Lies"), Lady Gaga ("House of Gucci," 2021), Rosie Perez ("The Flight Attendant"), Chris Rock ("Everybody Hates Chris") and Youn Yuh-jung ("Minari," 2020) were slated to present. They will be among those welcoming dedicated artists and craftspeople to the stage to accept awards for acting, directing and more. "The Power of the Dog" has earned the most nominations this season, with 12 Oscar nods, including one in the coveted Best Picture category. Based on Thom- as Savage's 1967 novel of the same name, the Netflix western is unique in a number of ways: It is the first film directed by a woman to earn more than 10 Oscar nods; director Jane Campion is the first woman to be nominated twice for Best Director, the first time being for 1993's "The Piano"; and director of photography Ari Wegner ("In Fabric," 2018) is the second woman nominated for Best Cinematography in the cer- emony's 94-year history. In addition to acting nomina- tions for "The Power of the Dog" stars Benedict Cumberbatch ("The Imitation Game," 2014) and Kodi Smit-McPhee ("X-Men: Apocalypse," 2016), the film's re- al-life couple Kirsten Dunst ("On Becoming a God in Central Flor- ida") and Jesse Plemons ("The Irishman," 2019) have both been nominated in supporting acting categories for their talent. Mar- ried couple Javier Bardem ("No Country for Old Men," 2007) and Penélope Cruz ("Vicky Cristina Barcelona," 2008) are also each nominated in acting categories for "Being the Ricardos" and "Parallel Mothers," respectively, marking the first time in Oscars history that two real-life couples have been nominated in all four major acting categories. Cover Story Jesse Plemons and Kirsten Dunst star in "The Power of the Dog" Lights, camera, action: Academy Awards shine spotlight on year's best films Ready Rental 3 x 4 Hayley Siefert 3 x 2 Letters & Numbers Sudoku Fill in the grid so that every row,every column, and every 4x4 box contains the digits 1 through 9 AND the letters A-F. Solution on page 12.

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